Introduction
The lavishing and immersive cloud gaming can be the next big revolution in gaming. Tech companies are already streamlining services for avid and addicted gamers to enjoy untethered games. They wouldn’t require extensive hardware products like a console, joystick, etc., anymore. Still cloud gaming future sometimes seems bleak with the news like Google shutting down its stream named Stadia for gamers.
However, we have another example of Netflix games in place to provide the best experience of cloud gaming. It provides premium games in its app to existing subscribers who are already fond of the creative content this production house produces.
Top industry experts like Sean Hollister already commented once that cloud gaming requires high-end quality internet connectivity to deliver the premium experience it promises.
You must also sort out the Wi-Fi congestion in your society or neighbourhood for a smooth cloud gaming experience. However, the cloud gaming market is expected to reach around $143 billion by the next decade.
So, there is a lot of scope for gamers and game designers in the field of cloud gaming. Hence, it’s the right time to educate yourself about the basics of gaming and gaming platforms from institutes like Frameboxx 2.0.
Otherwise, read the blog below and decide how you want to advance in the next generation of gaming.
Brief history of cloud gaming platforms
The first demo of a cloud gaming concept was released in 2003 by G-cluster or Game Cluster. In 2005, they began offering PC games to run on their servers. They first tied up with software and server providers, then offered various portals and platforms for cloud gaming to gamers.
By 2010, the potential and market size of cloud gaming rose exponentially because of:
- Improvements in data handling processes
- Better video compression techniques
- Feasible and easier smartphone capabilities
- Entry of newer cloud gaming platforms to optimise the market further
Sony Computer Entertainment then launched and offered PlayStation games on the cloud in 2012 after acquiring Gakai.
In 2015, Sony acquired OnLive, the next big player in cloud gaming. These acquisitions gave Sony exclusive access to patents for cloud games.
2018 was a game-changer in the history of cloud gaming and its platforms when Electronic Arts acquired assets and talent from GameFly. They were offering games with remote processing and streaming platforms having the lowest latency at that time.
Why are cloud games so attractive to gamers?
Read the factor below that determines cloud gaming's attractiveness to its gamers.
- No need for a PC or handling a console.
Gamers play their favourite cloud games on a basic laptop. They save a lot by not buying expensive hardware anymore.
- Cloud games are accessible on any OS.
The majority of high-quality games are only available on PC. That’s not the case with cloud games or gaming platforms. These are easily accessible on mobile devices, be it Android, iOS, or Linux, Microsoft, etc.
- Cloud games can run on Smart TV sets.
Young gamers can connect their smart television sets with controllers and basic gaming setups. Then, they go online and start browsing whatever cloud games they want to play, even on their television sets.
- No need for heavy storage to play cloud games.
Gamers can access, play, and replay cloud games at any time without having to worry about storage space. These games are online on the cloud server, and they do not require gamers to empty the disk space of their precious device exclusively for their playtime.
- Cloud games are not easy to pirate.
These games run on remote servers. So, hackers cannot easily pirate these games or the entire gameplay. This is helpful for the creative game designers who have put their heart and soul in designing a game from scratch.
What jobs can you find in cloud gaming?
There are several jobs you can explore in the cloud gaming sector. Some of these include:
- Concept creator:
Develop a unique concept or idea behind the next game you want to develop. Make it unique, personalised, and highly relatable to your target audience. This job requires strong visualisation and conceptualising power.
- Game designer:
Know the mechanics and motions to control, design, and initiate in a game whenever the main player interacts with the surroundings. Have all your behavioural and physical laws in place before trying to design the character and move it around.
- Animation expert:
Make the game and its characters livelier by introducing storytelling and 3D characters or their world. The feelings of a game will be immersive, engaging, and highly appreciative while playing such games on the cloud server.
- Game tester and developer:
Test the elements, sequence, shot, and arcs designed by the designer. Check for bugs and do A/B testing of the games your team designs. This is an interesting role for those who have an eye for detail or who are always hungry to find bugs/glitches in scripts and gameplay.
The future of cloud gaming
The VFX, gaming, and animation industry is still in its very nascent or novice stage. However, designers and gamers have been coming together to give equal attention to this sector in the last few years.
The future of cloud gaming, in general, seems bright. Gamers are not going anywhere. Rather, they are always on the hunt to find the best way to earn money through streaming channels and games.
More pressure will definitely be on game designers to deliver exceptional and unprecedented experiences. A developer company like Mainframe is already planning to launch cloud-native games. That will boost the popularity of cloud games further.
Next, we can see how game developers and producers work on improving the scalability of these games. Currently, most cloud games are backed by GPUs, which can waste natural resources processing the quality of the gameplay.
Game developers need to revise, rewrite, and reform the algorithms of these gameplays further to split the GPU power among users. Otherwise, they need to focus on reducing the latency for better traffic across borders.
Conclusion
In the post above, we figured out a brief past of the cloud gaming industry. Then, we delved into the current jobs which you can get enrolled for as a student if you pass your education from an academy like Frameboxx 2.0.
The next section of the blog taught readers about the future of cloud gaming in general. The entire blog copy above clearly shows this emerging sector within the gaming, animation, and VFX industry. If you see yourself diving deep into this sector, begin sharpening your craft and skills today.